--- title: What is Negligent Hiring? description: Negligent Hiring is hiring an employee with a criminal record (without running a background check), and they are convicted of a workplace crime. --- [Blog | Choice Screening | Background Screening ](https://www.choicescreening.com/blog) # [What is Negligent Hiring?](https://www.choicescreening.com/blog/what-is-negligent-hiring) Written by [Vanessa Mitchell](https://www.choicescreening.com/blog/author/vanessa-mitchell) | Tuesday, 11 October 2022 Negligent Hiring according to [US Legal](https://definitions.uslegal.com/n/negligent-hiring/): “is a claim made by an injured party against an employer based on the theory that the employer knew or should have known about the employee's background which, if known, indicates a dangerous or untrustworthy character.” Essentially, if you hire an employee with a criminal record (without first running a background check, or running an inadequate background check), and they are convicted of a workplace crime, you may be subject to a negligent hiring claim. Negligent hiring liability can occur if an employer: - Neglects to background check prospective employees. - Failed to sufficiently assess prospective employees. - Hires a prospective employee despite criminal history.   **Stats** [OSHA](https://www.osha.gov/OshDoc/data_General_Facts/factsheet-workplace-violence.pdf) estimates that over 20 Million US Workers each year are victims of workplace violence. $50 Billion is the cost of workplace crime for U.S Organizations each year according to [Statistic Brain](https://www.statisticbrain.com/employee-theft-statistics/). Employers lose 72% of negligent hiring cases with an average settlement of $1.6 million according to a [2001 Report on Criminal Background Checks](https://www.researchgate.net/publication/232579138_Criminal_Background_Checks_for_Prospective_and_Current_Employees_Current_Practices_Among_Municipal_Agencies).   **Prevention** The best way to prevent a negligent hiring claim is be in-depth and proactive when hiring employees and volunteers. A thorough and exhaustive background check from a reliable source l will help you make better, informed decisions. FCRA compliance is critical when hiring and should be done by an accredited background screening provider like Choice Screening. A quick database search is not enough to keep you from a negligent hiring suit. A thorough background check containing a combination of broad and narrow searches as well as searches that are directly related to the candidate’s job description will provide you with a more accurate picture of your candidate. Generally, a comprehensive background check consists of a combination of searches in four primary areas:   **Identity & SSN verification and address history** [SSN Verification & Address History](https://www.choicescreening.com/background-screening-services/ssn-verification-and-address-history)   **Public Record Searches** [Criminal Records](https://www.choicescreening.com/background-screening-services/criminal-and-civil/7-year-misdemeanor-and-felony-search) - [7 Year Felony and Misdemeanor](https://www.choicescreening.com/background-screening-services/criminal-and-civil/7-year-misdemeanor-and-felony-search) - [County Criminal](https://www.choicescreening.com/background-screening-services/criminal-and-civil/county-criminal-record-search) - [Statewide Criminal](https://www.choicescreening.com/background-screening-services/criminal-and-civil/statewide-criminal-record-search) - [Verified Enhanced National Criminal](https://www.choicescreening.com/background-screening-services/criminal-and-civil/verified-enhanced-national-criminal-record-search) - [US Federal Criminal](https://www.choicescreening.com/background-screening-services/criminal-and-civil/federal-criminal-record-search) - [International Criminal](https://www.choicescreening.com/background-screening-services/criminal-and-civil/international-criminal-record-search) - [National Wants and Warrants](https://www.choicescreening.com/background-screening-services/criminal-and-civil-record-searches/national-wants-and-warrants) - [Sex Offender Registry](https://www.choicescreening.com/background-screening-services/criminal-and-civil-record-searches/sex-offender-registry) [Civil Records](https://www.choicescreening.com/background-screening-services/criminal-and-civil/county-civil-record-search) - [County Civil](https://www.choicescreening.com/background-screening-services/criminal-and-civil/county-civil-record-search) - [US Federal Civil](https://www.choicescreening.com/background-screening-services/criminal-and-civil/federal-civil-record-search) Driving Records - [MVR](https://www.choicescreening.com/background-screening-services/motor-vehicle-records-mvr) - [FMCSA Clearinghouse](https://www.choicescreening.com/blog/fmcsa-clearinghouse-regulations) [Sex Offender Registry](https://www.choicescreening.com/background-screening-services/criminal-and-civil/national-sex-offender-registry)   **Professional Qualifications** [Employment Verification](https://www.choicescreening.com/background-screening-services/professional-verifications/employment-verification) [Education Verification](https://www.choicescreening.com/background-screening-services/professional-verifications/education-verification) [Professional License Verification](https://www.choicescreening.com/background-screening-services/professional-verifications/license-and-certificate)  [Professional References](https://www.choicescreening.com/background-screening-services/professional-verifications/reference-check)   **Job-Specific Searches and Testing**  Drug, Alcohol and Medical Screening - [Drug & Alcohol Testing](https://www.choicescreening.com/background-screening-services/drug-alcohol-and-medical-screening/drug-and-alcohol-testing) - [Titers Blood Test](https://www.choicescreening.com/background-screening-services/drug-alcohol-and-medical-screening/titers-blood-test) Medical Sanctions and Registries - [Medical Registries](https://www.choicescreening.com/background-screening-services/medical-sanctions-and-registries/medical-registries) - [OIG](https://www.choicescreening.com/background-screening-services/medical-sanctions-and-registries/oig) - [FACIS](https://www.choicescreening.com/background-screening-services/medical-sanctions-and-registries/facis) Credit - [Credit Reports](https://www.choicescreening.com/background-screening-services/credit-report) - [Bankruptcy, Liens, & Judgments](https://www.choicescreening.com/bankruptcy-liens-judgments)   Please remember that as a consumer reporting agency, we cannot act as your attorney. Note that this blog is not all-inclusive. Ensure you’re consulting with a qualified employment attorney when creating and maintaining a background screening program. [View full post](https://www.choicescreening.com/blog/what-is-negligent-hiring) ```json { "@context" : "http://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "Vanessa Mitchell" }, "dateModified" : "2022-10-11T14:08:00.770Z", "datePublished" : "2022-10-11T14:08:00Z", "headline" : "What is Negligent Hiring?", "image" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "height" : 667, "url" : "https://457342.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hubfs/457342/shutterstock_113791951%20%281%29-jpg.jpeg", "width" : 1000 }, "mainEntityOfPage" : "https://www.choicescreening.com/blog/what-is-negligent-hiring", "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "height" : 60.0, "url" : "https://cdn2.hubspot.net/hubfs/457342/choice-screening-rgb-2.png", "width" : 315.419 }, "name" : "Our Blog" } } ```